parbreaker

The biggest thing I would say that would help is to go in being open minded. Chances are you have your own ideas of what is wrong with your swing and what you should be working on. Be prepared to hear that you may be wrong. One of the biggest things, IMO, that can make lessons non-productive is a student that wants to listen to a pro only if they agree with them. To elaborate, I think this stems from the fact that what you feel you are doing and what you are actually doing are very rarely the same thing. There is a discontinuity there that can make it hard to comprehend, mentally. Just be open minded and enjoy yourself.

I always go to a spot on the end of the range when I go. I like to be as far away as possible from other people because it does help me to concentrate. I do know a lot of people listen to an ipod or something to help them drown out others, but for some reason I just can't do that. Music gets too distracting to me. If you can yourself though, that would be an option to help. As far as instructors talking near you, I was just mentioning it to a friend of mine last week. The tendency is to start thinking about what you are hearing about, whether it affects you or not. I have suffered from it before as well as seen it happen when I was helping out friends. Anymore I can usually drown it out, but I think that comes with confidence in your own swing than anything else. If you hear an instructor helping a student to (for example) turn their shoulders more and you really don't know if your shoulders are turning enough then it starts creeping doubt into your head and you get distracted. On the other hand however, if you do know that your shoulder turn is fine and you honestly believe it then it won't get to you and soon become background noise.

I've done the two ball trick quite a bit back when I was in high school. I never did it for the height though. I always did it in a bunker next to a green. In addition to the high ball going pretty vertical it has an enormous amount of backspin and usually comes back into the bunker (i.e. 20 feet forward onto the green, spins back at me, through the fringe, through the rough and back into the bunker). That was the fun part of that shot to me, not the height. watching a ball with 20-40 feet of backspin was pretty exciting.

I can understand that. (Been there, done that). Without lessons, another way to help improve quickly is to find some people to play with that are better. Ask around through friends or while practicing at some of the golf courses facilities. You can always go out on the course as a single and get paired up with people too. Some of my best friendships have turned out to be from people that I met on a golf course. Having a friend that is more knowledgable makes playing more fun and helps you instigate a bit of competition into it too.

This has been a somewhat interesting discussion, and has caused me to think a bit about my own habits. I'm going to be honest and explain how I have always done things. First, I always use wooden, non painted tees. The reason for this (other than OCD, lol) is simple. It's wood. It's not going to hurt the environment if it is left behind, or thrown into the woods, or tossed into a creek. It's wood, not a pop bottle. Second, I always pick up any tees that are in good condition on tee boxes. As cheap as tees are, I hate having to buy them. They are little more than an overweight toothpick anyway. It seems silly to buy them sometimes, lol. Third, I always use a partial tee if I'm not hitting a driver. I always look around for one, and actually find it depressing when I can't find a partial tee on a tee box because that means I've now got to use a perfectly good tee that probably won't survive this attack. Fourth, I always leave partial tees on the teebox, typically by one of the markers. I do this mostly out of consideration for anyone else that may want to use it, but also partly because... it's wood. Right or wrong, that's how I've always done things.

Typically I prefer to do some pre-round warm ups. It gets my body warmed up and gives me a feel for how I'm swinging. I usually get a small bucket of balls and hit some PW's, starting with pitch shots and working up to full shots. This probably takes about 10-15 balls. Then I go to a 7 iron, starting with some half swings, working up to full swings. This is usually another 10-15 balls. After that I go to the practice green and hit some practice putts to get the feel of the greens (about 5 mins or so) and then I'm ready to go. Overall it probably takes me 20 minutes to get ready. I don't want to hit so many that I get into a "practice" mind set because that's not what I'm there to do, but I do want to get my blood flowing and see what my tendencies are at the moment. On another note, it isn't uncommon at all for me to go to the practice range for a good session after a round when my misses are clear in my head and I can work on what I need to.

There are two real aspects to answer with this question. First, is hitting a 7 iron 145 yds on average too short to play good golf? No, it's not. As has been mentioned, it is very possible to shoot good scores with that distance. Second, is hitting a 7 iron 145 yds optimal for YOUR swing? Maybe. No one can answer that without seeing your swing. Keeping that in consideration, you may be able to get some more yardage by working on some swing issues. One key I have always kept in mind regarding distance is this: You know you are doing it right when you can gain distance and swing slower at the same time. Your high ball flight may indicate some casting going on, causing a loss of distance. That is pure speculation though, since I haven't seen your swing.

Without knowing more about it, I can't say. Is the sway on the backswing? downswing? both? How much is there? It's dependent on a lot of variables. A video of your swing would allow people here to really answer the question.

I would agree with the above rates. (average is probably $45 to $60 an hour, with some higher priced services going up to $100+) I am giving one of my best friends lessons right now (real, undivided attention lessons for an hour a week) for free, but that's because he's a good friend, I like to teach, and he has shown the dedication to convince me it won't all be for naught). I am not a certified teacher by any means. If someone I was mildly familiar with asked me to give them full lessons, it would cost them some money for sure. I don't think I would deserve what a PGA pro would, but I still value my time. I guess the point is, as has been said above, it all depends on the person.

You appear to have very little lower body movement at all. Your swing is mostly arms turning around your torso. You are really going after the ball, so once you make contact that momentum is simply carrying through your body, leg, and into your foot. It has to give, the way you are swinging. All of your hip movement is turn, and it all takes place well after the ball is gone just to get you turned towards the target line. The first thing I would recommend is to swing slower, maybe take some half swings. See what happens. It should at least lessen it.

Increasing distance does a lot, for the whole game really. I found this out a few years ago when fixing a major swing flaw. When it "clicked" I had instantly gained 25-30 yards on my drivers and all my other clubs proportionally. 1. It changes the way you play the holes. On older courses you can find yourself not playing them as designed... you will fly right over traditional landing areas and into more trouble, or being able to avoid traditional trouble all together. My home course is like this... In the last 30+ rounds of golf I can't remember the last time I was even in a fairway bunker.... 2. It gives you more options on your tee shots. You can start going over some obstacles more easily. 3. It gives you more options on approach shots. You can reach more par 5's, and can turn a fairway wood shot into a mid iron shot. 4. It allows you to get more height on shots more easily. You can land the ball from farther away. I think this is minimal however, as most of this will come from a proper swing. With a proper swing, you can lower the trajectory more easily in windy conditions as well. Overall, there is one major place where increased distance makes a significant distance. That is when you get to the edge of your range. Short of that range it just changes the number on the club. (Watch the pros, some will hit 5 where others hit 7 and their shot patterns don't change that much). Above that range you're not hitting something to lay up in any case. That means your drives and approach shots on long holes will be where this will have the largest impact. The difference in laying up or easily reaching a par 5 is significant, as well as the difference between hitting a mid-long iron into a par 4 or having to whale on a fairway wood and hope for the best.

You are doing very well for only 5 months of play. As far as the "playing practice balls while playing" goes, it is up to you. Personally, I absolutely love doing it. I get to try different shots, try different things, etc. during playing conditions. It helps that I'm a member at a club where I can just go tee off in the afternoons when the course is near deserted. If there is anyone waiting on you then I wouldn't recommend it. It isn't uncommon for me to play 2 or 3 balls at a time. Sometimes I'll play each ball all the way through the hole, and other times I'll hit a few then pick them all up except my first shot... it all depends. Sometimes I'll hit 4 drives, pick them all up, and then put the ball somewhere different that I didn't hit it just to try a different approach shot or something... or I'll hit a few out of bunkers sometimes. Personally, I tend to only play 1 ball and keep exact score when I am playing with someone. When I'm by myself and just playing 9 during the afternoons, I hit multiple balls. I consider those more "practice" than playing a round of golf. That's just what I do though.

There's a few initial things I noticed. 1. I will mention this first because it appears to be the largest reason you are missing the ball so badly. You head is dipping a few inches down on your backswing, and never comes close to coming back up to its original position at impact. Try to keep your spine angle and head steady through the shot. 2. You seem very tense. You look like you are gripping the club too tight and your joints and movements look a bit too mechanical. Loosening up a bit should help with your timing. 3. You are still taking the club back much too far. Try to take 3/4 or 1/2 swings for a while. You will find that what you think feels like a 1/2 swing will actually be close to a full swing where it should be. 4. This is much more minor, but your stance is very wide. For a wedge like that your feet should be about shoulder width apart. Your feet are wider than I would have my own feet to hit a driver. I hope that helps, and hope you start hitting the ball better again.

I think cupped tin may be right. The part of the swing that is looking "off" is around contact and just after it. I can't tell without a head on view, but it does appear that you are scooping a bit and causing your left arm to chicken wing out... That's just a guess though without seeing the other view.

We can't really give you much advice without a video to watch. Everyone's swing is different. If you're really looking to improve I would highly recommend getting some lessons from a local pro.

I have hit a wall a couple of times. The first time I tried to force my way through it, and just ended up quitting the game for a while. Not the ideal result. I went for years and didn't watch golf, read about it, or even look at a club. The last time I had a burnout I stopped playing as soon as I felt it coming. I basically went from hitting 1,000 balls a week and playing 54 holes a week, to doing other stuff. I basically lifted the pressure off of myself and only did what I really felt like doing. I ended up watching a bit of golf (maybe only the last 2 hours of sundays) and playing a round every couple of weeks. I filled my time with other hobbies. Eventually my itch became stronger and before I knew it I was back to my old ways. In the end, I think burnouts are something that any serious player is going to have to deal with. You might have to find your own way of dealing with it, but the best advice I could give is to really pay attention to your feelings... and don't go against them.

There is one story that always comes up when I think of this. It is related to course management and getting over bad shots. I learned a valuable lesson here that I never forgot. I was in high school, senior year, at the first match of the year. It was a nine hole match at our home course. I birdied #1 (par 5, on in 2), birdied #2 (wedge to 1 foot), and then proceeded to miss the green on holes 3,4,5,6, & 7. Miraculously, I managed to get up and down for par on every single one of those holes. I had built up quite a bit of confidence. Two under going into #8, a long par 4. Well I swing too hard and cut my ball into the rough and under a pine tree. I should have just hit a small punch out into the fairway, but didn't. I ended up with a double bogey on 8 and followed it right up with a bogey on 9. It ended up not effecting our positioning in the match, but on a personal note it was very frustrating. I was frustrated with myself for letting myself do that. To the best of my knowledge though that was the last time I truly let one bad shot turn into a string of bad scores.

I may be in the minority here after reading the previous posts. I have never had a problem spotting my ball, and have never seen any logic in the reasoning "I can't concentrate on my swing if I'm worried about tracking my ball." When I am swinging tracking my shot isn't on my mind at all... It's just a natural reaction. Perhaps that will change as I get older though, so I don't doubt that it may be true for many people. I'm just not one of them. I have never had a problem tracking shots from beside someone either, but I definitely agree that if eyesight is an issue then standing behind someone would help tremendously. With that being said, I have always asked people to not stand behind me. It's just more personal preference really, I think.

I understand where you are coming from. A hard packed, thin bunker is one place where having a low bounce wedge helps. If the sand is packed super tight I will typically use my 60* wedge and play it like a normal bunker shot. I do enter the sand closer to the ball than I normally would, but I have to make sure I take a solid, firm swing to make sure I get into the sand with the leading edge. That shot works most of the time... it still won't compensate for rocks though, lol.

This may be something you've already tried, but I figured I would put this out there. I go back and forth helping out my own swing instructor when he is working on his swing, and I have noticed something. When someone has been playing with something in their swing for so long, it can be almost impossible to break. One thing my instructor found helpful was when I would stand behind him and simply tell him exactly where his swing was after each shot. He could then try different feelings, adjustments, etc. and get immediate feedback as to what he was doing while hitting balls. Granted, it takes a pretty nice person to stand behind you for a couple of hours giving you a play by play of your swings, but if you have someone willing it may be an option. There's more continuity in it than trying something, walking back and looking at a video, repeat, etc...

This back and forth is starting to seem a bit rediculous... I think the answer to the original question is this, in two parts: 1. Yes, there are certain shots where a driver off the ground is beneficial (provided you are capable of hitting the shot) 2. The other part is an ability question. Can you hit the shot without too much risk? That is where a lot of this back and forth is coming in and I think that is simply something that each person has to answer for themselves. It's no different than any other shot, really. A wide open 60* flop shot is an amazing shot to have in certain situations. Does that mean everyone with a 60* wedge should try it? That's really up to each person...

Nope. I am an advocate of always using the lowest lofted club you can to get to the hole. This is because it will hit the ground sooner and be more reliable. However, there are just certain shots that you can't hit without a wedge. My 60* has been a godsend on more than one occasion and I won't play without that and a sand wedge.

I agree. One of the recent issues of Golf Digest had that exact same illusion in two pros swings in the frame by frame breakdown.

A few years ago, my largest problem was exactly what you are dealing with. I have to admit I think it was the single hardest thing I ever had to do to my golf swing. For some reason adjusting the club path like that was near impossible for the longest time. The above advice is pretty much what I was left to doing. I didn't think "ricky fowler" though (I don't think he was even on the radar when I was fighting my problem). I actually thought more about Jim Furyk's swing... yea, that extreme. It took me quite some time and a lot of work, but finally I was where I needed to be.